#Russia 2018: How Nigeria drew Argentina for 5th time
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn in a fair first round Group D with perennial opponents Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.
The Eagles have already clashed with Argentina four times at the World Cup – 1994, 2002, 2010, 2014. They have lost all these matches. However, the Eagles have most recently recorded two famous wins over the South Americans in friendlies.
The last was last month when they beat them 4-2 in Krasnodar, Russia. The three-time African champions will play their opening game against Croatia.
Nigeria have never clashed with Iceland at full international level.
The pairings: Group A: RUSSIA, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: PORTUGAL, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: FRANCE, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: ARGENTINA, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: BRAZIL, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia,
Group F: GERMANY, Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic
Group G: BELGIUM, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: POLAND, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
Meanwhile Argentina legend Diego Maradona is confident that Argentina will make it through to the last sixteen of the 2018 World Cup after the two-time world champions were pitted against Nigeria, Iceland and Croatia in Group D.
The Super Eagles face off with the South Americans at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg on June 26, 2018 in both countries final group game.
Nigeria have lost by the odd goal in each of their five group matches with Argentina at the World Cup, including a 3-2 loss to a team inspired by Lionel Messi in Brazil 2014.
‘’It is a feasible challenge because of the type of teams. Argentina have to step up their game. They can not play as badly as they are doing,’’ said Maradona during the draw in Moscow on Friday afternoon. Nigeria qualified for the second round of the World Cup in 1994, 1998, and 2014, and were knocked out in the group stage in 2002 and 2010.
